Leaving the UK

Hi,

I've been contemplating moving to Australia for years. I feel I have done enough research to get most figures but I need some inside information from people like yourselves who already live there to give me an accurate response.

About my situation

I have with me my wife, and 2 young children. My salary if I do get a job will be 55-60k i think. As we have 2 young children my wife who is a child care worker level 3 will want to probably work casually during term time only. She will probably work after school starts and finish just before school finishes. I think it maybe 5 hours per day. I have no idea what salary she would get but I feel $19/hour seems reasonable.

We currently reside in a very poor suburb of England. Housing isn't that great but we manage to get by. We spend at the very most 2000GBP per month on all our outgoings. I mean everything total. Our lifestyle is very modest and generally spend when we need to spend. I never buy things on credit but pay upfront.

Now I am not looking to move into the best suburb in Melbourne or Brisbane but just a standard area. Nothing too expensive and nothing too crime infested either. Some of the poorest suburbs in these two cities have better and much bigger houses then we currently live at.

My question is do you think given my monthly spenditure (if that word exists) I shall make more savings in Australia or would I be better off staying in the UK?

Thanks in advance

Pollyana

what visa do you have? Being a temporary resident or a permanent one can make a difference for stuff like child benefits and rebates.

quoll

No, probably not a great option even with benefits. For a single person sharing accommodation then possibly.

Pollyana

its not a great salary is it. I'm sure there are families living on that level but it would be difficult.

Leaving the UK

Thanks for the replies.

Now i did mention my wife will be working too, but maybe after she actually finds a job. So intially she will not be working until she lands a job which can take month or two maybe?

After she gets a job she'll be working part time. As a rough estimate shes looking at around $30k. Therefore our combined income maybe around $85-90k.

Does that sound better? The visa will be 457 temp

quoll

No, that actually sounds worse because she won't be eligible for any child care rebates and child care is going to cost at least $100 a day per child. Nor will you be eligible for a load of other benefits as a temporary resident,

Also, it is more difficult for the dependents of temporary visa holders to actually crack a job in the first place, they're not an attractive proposition to employers as they could be gone any time.

Beoz

Of you course you can live on that. You do it modestly in the UK. You can do it modestly in Australia.

So, how do you intend on getting the visa?

Grayling

Does your wife have any Australian qualifications?.....it is not that simple to work in areas such as child care without jumping through a lot of hoops.

Even if her qualifications are acceptable it will not be easy to find a job, never mind one that is only during school hours.....(most women with children would love those sort of hours).

She would not even have a blue card (for Queensland) or the equivalent for other states, so finding a job within a matter of months is wildly optimistic....or near impossible.

You really need to research this a bit better.

Leaving the UK

Well thanks for all the responses. I have applied for jobs but as you guys have mentioned I really need to sit and think about it. You have definately given me some food for thought.

I just cannot command the wages for my profession in Australia as it is not regulated in the said country. Regulation only exists within the UK. I am therefore probably going to drop the idea of emigrating to Australia due to high costs and low wages. Not moving to the other side of the planet to be in the same position or worse off.

Thanks again guys

evets

The salary is at the low end of the scale, still doable is you look at some of the western suburbs of Melbourne. You would also need to factor in private healthcare costs, if not included by your company. And also the cost of flights back to the UK if you wanted to see your family or family emergencies came up.

You do not mention what you do. How easy do you think it would be for you to find an employer who would want to sponsor you?

If it is still a dream, have you considered retraining to something that would open up the salary brackets?

GarryP

Worth noting that the minimum salary for a 457 is $54k - so they would be paying you only just over that level. That sounds like some exploitation, not valuing skills.

Possible, but not easy, even with wife's casual earnings (if she could get some). Would probably be looking for a way for her to be earning properly, maybe in child care. Would probably need to get some qualifications. Aim at some certainty of a $100k combined salary.

Bermudashorts

Why would you opt for a 457 visa if you want to move to Australia? This is a temporary visa and it is intended for people that only plan to do a stint in Australia. If your occupation is one that qualifies for employer sponsorship then it must be in the skills list and you should look into skilled migration.

If you can live on say £25k in UK then you might find the salary you are looking at manageable. Your wife would be extraordinarily fortunate to find part time childcare work during convenient working hours though. There is no shortage of people seeking the same and I would not be at all surprised if it took years not months to land that type of role.

Tr1boy

Strange response. You've been thinking about it for years but get the most basic of info and the dream is over after 3 posts?

Beoz

so true.

BE has finally killed a potential immigrant.

Pollyana

What do you mean 'finally'? There have been many before this who have posted without realising the reality of what they were getting into.... not just in Australia either.